Did You Know Concrete Sidewalks & Walkways Can Be Decorated?

Walking on concrete (rather than dirt or grass) can make any building or home more appealing. More concrete options for curb appeal are becoming available, including the decorative cement used in many modern designs.

Decorative Concrete

Plain gray concrete is the surface that’s generally installed most often, but there are still other decorative alternatives in terms of concrete. Thanks to the evolution of the concrete industry, there are many options that will work well on an existing walkway.

In fact, designers all over the United States have really taken to concrete as their new favorite material. Decorative concrete is everywhere: offices, trendy restaurants, retail stores, homes, and more! It comes in a number of ways, including molded, stained, personalized, and colored.

Decorating New Walkways

Given how versatile concrete is and how many decorative techniques there are in terms of pattern and color, the possibilities for your concrete sidewalk to stand out uniquely are infinite. Some of the ideal ways to go about it include (but are certainly not limited to):

• Colored concrete
• Concrete engraving
• Concrete staining
• Exposed aggregate finishes
• Intricately grooved patterns
• Intricately sawed patterns
• Stamped patterns
• Stenciled patterns

Below, we will take a closer look at some of these methods:

Colored Concrete

Understandably, people think of gray and nothing more where concrete is concerned. In today’s modern times, permanent color is not only possible, but it’s also ideal.

Giving a sidewalk more distinction gets much easier with this method. Think of childhood chalk art on sidewalks, but more refined, professional, and actually permanent.

Sawcutting and Scoring Concrete

Distinct graphic effects on concrete sidewalks or walkways are best achieved through these means. Concrete saws or hand tools can be used to make permanent patterns in them. Aside from elaborate works of art, this is also helpful for the purpose of company logos.

Exposed Aggregate Finishes on Concrete

This finish is best described as “pebble-like,” and it’s often used on sidewalks not just for aesthetic purposes but also because the surface is very resistant to slips.

When concrete’s aggregate is exposed, you can attain incredible decorative effects at a good cost. The cost generally takes into account a few other necessary materials aside from the decorative aggregate.

To get a more dramatic look, you can enhance or contrast the colors or textures of the decorative gravel. You can also combine areas with smooth finishes with spots that have exposed aggregate.

Stamped Patterns on Concrete

Without a doubt, stamped concrete is the most popular treatment for concrete walkways in terms of decoration. This is mostly because it’s easy to create a virtually unlimited pattern of your choosing.

You can choose traditional materials such as brick, slate, or flagstone patterns. Or, you can specialize your patterns to produce wood plank or botanical or nature-inspired patterns.

Patterns and colors for stamped concrete can be picked out specifically for blending with hardscaping elements surrounding the home. Stamped concrete can also be intermingled with other concrete treatments for decorative means, like chemical staining or aggregate finishes.

Conclusion

Concrete walkways and sidewalks are vital to any property. Thanks to advancements in technology, they can now serve as decor as well. Key methods include stamped patterns on concrete and colored concrete.

Want to get a stamped concrete walkway? Drop Nav Construction a line today! We’ve got quality concrete for residential and commercial needs in Northern Virginia.